SYNONYMS

arjunah uvaca–Arjuna said; atha–hereafter; kena–by what; prayuktah–impelled; ayam–one; papam–sins; carati–acts; purusah–a man; anicchan–without desiring; api–although; varsneya–O descendant of Vrsni; balat–by force; iva–as if; niyojitah–engaged.

TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: O descendant of Vrsni, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?

SYNONYMS
sreyan–far better; sva-dharmah–one’s prescribed duties; vigunah–even faulty; para-dharmat–from duties mentioned for others; svanusthitat–than perfectly done; sva-dharme–in one’s prescribed duties; nidhanam–destruction; sreyah–better; para-dharmah–duties prescribed for others; bhaya-avahah–dangerous.

TRANSLATION
It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though they may be faultily, than another’s duties. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.

SYNONYMS
indriyasya–of the senses; indriyasya arthe–in the sense objects; raga–attachment; dvesau–also detachment; vyavasthitau–put under regulations; tayoh–of them; na–never; vasam–control; agacchet–one should come; tau–those; hi–certainly; asya–his; paripanthinau–stumbling blocks.

TRANSLATION
Attraction and repulsion for sense objects are felt by embodied beings, but one should not fall under the control of senses and sense objects because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization.

SYNONYMS
sadrsam–accordingly; cestate–tries; svasyah–in one’s own nature; prakrteh–modes; jnana-van–learned; api–although; prakrtim–nature; yanti–undergo; bhutani–all living entities; nigrahah–suppression; kim–what; karisyati–can do.

TRANSLATION
Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows his nature. What can repression accomplish?

Synonyms:

ye–those; tu–however; etat–this; abhyasuyantah–out of envy; na–do not; anutisthanti–regularly perform; me–My; matam–injunction; sarva-jnana–all sorts of knowledge; vimudhan–perfectly befooled; tan–they are; viddhi–know it well; nastan–all ruined; acetasah–without Krsna consciousness.

Translation:

But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly, are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and doomed to ignorance and bondage.

Synonyms:

ye–those; me–My; matam–injunctions; idam–this; nityam–eternal function; anutisthanti–execute regularly; manavah–humankind; sraddha-vantah–with faith and devotion; anasuyantah–without envy; mucyante–become free; te–all of them; api–even; karmabhih–from the bondage of the law of fruitive action.

Translation:

One who executes his duties according to My injunctions and who follows this teaching faithfully, without envy, becomes free from the bondage of fruitive actions.

Synonyms:

mayi–unto Me; sarvani–all sorts of; karmani–activities; sannyasya–giving up completely; adhyatma–with full knowledge of the self; cetasa–consciousness; nirasih–without desire for profit; nirmamah–without ownership; bhutva–so being; yudhyasva–fight; vigata-jvarah–without being lethargic.

Translation:

Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with mind intent on Me, and without desire for gain and free from egoism and lethargy, fight.